Abstract:

An integrated satellite navigation system is disclosed. The system
comprises a navigation satellite device and a head up display. The
navigation satellite device generates navigation information. The head up
display retrieves the navigation information from the navigation
satellite device and projects a navigation interface using a projection
device thereof to display the navigation information.

4. The integrated satellite navigation system as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the navigation interface displays the navigation information in
inverted left and right directions and projects the navigation
information on a windscreen.

5. A method for displaying navigation information, comprising:generating
navigation information using a navigation satellite device;transmitting
the navigation information to a head up display; andprojecting a
navigation interface using the head up display to display the navigation
information.

6. The method for displaying navigation information as claimed in claim 5,
wherein the head up display retrieves the navigation information in a
wireless or wired manner from the navigation satellite device.

8. The method for displaying navigation information as claimed in claim 5,
wherein the navigation interface displays the navigation information in
inverted left and right directions and projects the navigation
information on a windscreen.

[0003]The invention relates to satellite navigation devices, and more
particularly to an integrated satellite navigation system and a method
for navigation information display.

[0004]2. Description of the Related Art

[0005]Current satellite navigation devices, such as portable navigation
devices (PND), are installed on a central unit of an automobile or
integrated in a dashboard thereof. Since a satellite navigation device
cannot be directly installed permanently in front of the driver due to
safety concerns while driving, the driver must turn or bend his head to
view a satellite navigation device screen installed on the central unit
or integrated on the dashboard.

[0006]However, when the driver bends his head or changes his/her visual
angle (i.e. changes focus length) without bending his head to view the
navigation information, time not spent on viewing road conditions may
amount to at least 12 seconds, causing the car at normal speeds to move
by about 2754 meters, thus, critically affecting driving safety.

[0007]Thus, an integrated satellite navigation system is desirable,
reflecting the navigation information on a windscreen for safe and rapid
navigation information display.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008]Integrated satellite navigation systems are provided. An exemplary
embodiment of an integrated satellite navigation system comprises a
navigation satellite device and a head up display. The navigation
satellite device generates navigation information. The head up display
retrieves the navigation information from the navigation satellite
device. The head up display further comprises a projection device. The
projection device projects a navigation interface to display the
navigation information.

[0009]Navigation interfaces are provided. An exemplary embodiment of a
navigation interface comprises a circle, eight directional straight lines
divergently dispersed from a center of the circle, and an U type shape
intersecting the straight lines and surrounding the circle.

[0010]A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with
reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent
detailed description and examples with references made to the
accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0012]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an integrated satellite navigation
system of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a navigation interface of the present
invention;

[0014]FIG. 3A is a schematic view of a navigation interface on a
projection device of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 3B is a schematic view of a navigation interface projected on a
windscreen of the present invention;

[0016]FIGS. 4A˜4G are schematic views of the navigation interface
displaying various navigation information of the present invention; and

[0017]FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for navigation information display
of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018]Several exemplary embodiments of the invention are described with
reference to FIGS. 1 through 5, which generally relate to navigation
information display. It is to be understood that the following disclosure
provides various different embodiments as examples for implementing
different features of the invention. Specific examples of components and
arrangements are described in the following to simplify the present
disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to
be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference
numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for
the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a
relationship between the various described embodiments and/or
configurations.

[0019]The invention discloses an integrated satellite navigation system
and a method for navigation information display.

[0020]An embodiment of the integrated satellite navigation system projects
navigation information on a windscreen using a head up display (HUD) so
the driver does not have to bend his head or change his visual angle to
view the navigation information. Thus, reducing the time not spent by
drivers on viewing road conditions.

[0021]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an integrated satellite navigation
system of the present invention.

[0022]An embodiment of the integrated satellite navigation system
comprises a navigation satellite device 100 and a head up display 200.
The navigation satellite device 100 further comprises navigation software
150. The head up display 200 further comprises a projection device 250.

[0023]When the integrated satellite navigation system is activated, the
navigation satellite device 100 receives geographic information. The
navigation software 150 processes the geographic information and
generates navigation information according to a user's navigation
settings and transmits the navigation information to the head up display
200 in a wireless or wired manner. The head up display 200 retrieves,
from the navigation satellite device, and processes the navigation
information, displays the processed navigation information using a
navigation interface provided by the head up display 200 and projects the
navigation interface to display the navigation information on a
windscreen (not shown) using the projection device 250.

[0024]FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a navigation interface of the present
invention. The navigation interface displays navigation information of
various road conditions (i.e. driving paths), comprising, for example,
turn right, turn left, turn around, roundabout, down cloverleaf, go
straight, and so on, and further displays speed per hour and provides
speedtrap information. The navigation interface is composed of a circle,
eight directional straight lines divergently dispersed from a center of
the circle, a rectangle or an U type shape intersecting the straight
lines and surrounding the circle, a speed alarm lamp, and number or text
lamps for displaying speed per hour, distances, or distance units.

[0025]When a car is driving, the number lamps show the current car speed
and one of the text lamp (SPd) is turned on. When a speedtrap is being
approached, the speed alarm lamp is turned on. When navigation
information is retrieved, the navigation interface displays a forward
direction and one of the text lamps is turned on to show the current
distance unit as kilometer (Km), mile (m), feet (F) or yard (y).

[0026]FIG. 3A is a schematic view of a navigation interface on the
projection device 250 of the present invention. The head up display 200
is installed on a dashboard in front of the driver. When the navigation
interface is projected on a windscreen to be viewed, the navigation
information is displayed in inverted left and right directions, as shown
in FIG. 3B.

[0027]FIGS. 4A˜4G are schematic views of the navigation interface
displaying various navigation information of the present invention. FIGS.
4A˜4G respectively display an initial state, go straight, turn
around, turn left at the roundabout, and turn right at the roundabout,
which are only examples and not to limit the present invention. It is
noted that FIGS. 4A˜4G only show navigation information of driving
directions, speed alarms and navigation information of distances and car
speed are not further described.

[0028]FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for navigation information display
of the present invention.

[0029]When an integrated satellite navigation system is activated,
geographic information is received using a navigation satellite device
(step S51). The geographic information is processed using navigation
software of the navigation satellite device (step S52). Navigation
information is generated according to navigation settings (step S53) and
transmitted to a head up display in a wireless or wired manner (step
S54). The navigation satellite device is processed using the head up
display (step S55), the processed navigation information is displayed
using a navigation interface provided by the head up display (step S56),
and the navigation interface displaying the navigation information is
projected on a windscreen using a projection device of the head up
display (step S57).

[0030]Methods and systems of the present disclosure, or certain aspects or
portions of embodiments thereof, may take the form of program code (i.e.,
instructions) embodied in media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMS, hard
drives, firmware, or any other machine-readable storage medium, wherein,
when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a
computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing embodiments of
the disclosure. The methods and apparatus of the present disclosure may
also be embodied in the form of program code transmitted over some
transmission medium, such as electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber
optics, or via any other form of transmission, wherein, when the program
code is received and loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a
computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing and embodiment
of the disclosure. When implemented on a general-purpose processor, the
program code combines with the processor to provide a unique apparatus
that operates analogously to specific logic circuits.

[0031]While the invention has been described by way of example and in
terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary,
it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements
(as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope
of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so
as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.